Stoke took a significant step towards retaining their Championship status with a 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at the bet365 Stadium.Dutch winger Million Manhoef opened the scoring in the first half before defender Ben Wilmot added a second after the break following a terrible error from Owls goalkeeper Pierce Charles.Victory extends the Potters’ unbeaten run to five matches – made

Sky Bet League One champions Birmingham failed to put their Vertu Trophy sorrows behind them in a 0-0 draw against Crawley Town at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park on Friday.Birmingham started off strong as Jay Stansfield’s wayward volley was saved by Toby Steward in the first minute. He looked to correct his mistakes three minutes later, but could only hit the near post for Birmingham&rs

Southend did their National League play-off hopes no favours with a goalless draw in the Essex derby at home to Braintree.Visiting keeper Henry Gray made sharp saves from Macaulay Bonne and Leon Parillon, who then almost combined for an opener in the 28th minute with Bonne just unable to reach his team-mate’s cross.Braintree’s best opportunity of the first half came when John Akinde&rs

Lucas Andersen’s sensational strike saw QPR snatch a late 2-1 victory at Preston in the Sky Bet Championship.The Dane came off the bench and found the top corner from range in the fourth minute of stoppage time.Liam Lindsay had headed the hosts in front with his first goal of the campaign in the final moments of an energetic first half before Michael Frey’s leveller in the 80th minute.

Burnley moved to the cusp of an immediate return to the Premier League with a 2-1 comeback victory over nine-man Watford at Vicarage Road that was decided in the space of 11 chaotic second-half minutes.Josh Brownhill’s 14th goal of the Championship season had given the visitors the lead before Watford imploded with midfielders Moussa Sissoko and Edo Kayembe sent off within nine minutes of ea

Defenders Rob Dickie and Ross McCrorie were Bristol City’s heroes as their bid for a Championship play-off place received a massive boost with a 2-1 win over 10-man Sunderland at Ashton Gate.The visitors had to play all but the first seven minutes with 10 men after defender Trai Hume was shown a straight red card for clipping Nahki Wells from behind as the striker burst clear onto a long bal

Colchester moved into the Sky Bet League Two play-off places following a 0-0 draw at home to 10-man Crewe.However, Danny Cowley’s side missed a golden opportunity to claim a vital victory at the JobServe Community Stadium after Arthur Read’s 87th-minute penalty was saved by goalkeeper Filip Marschall.Kane Hemmings’ effort from the edge of the area was saved by Colchester goalkeep

Middlesbrough kept their Sky Bet Championship play-off hopes alive in dramatic fashion as Tommy Conway’s stoppage-time penalty secured a 2-1 win over a Plymouth side that remain rooted to the foot of the table.Conway was pushed over by Joe Edwards, who was subsequently sent off, and dusted himself down to successfully beat Conor Hazard from the spot.Finn Azaz’s opener had earlier been

Gabe Breeze’s dramatic added-time penalty save secured relegation-threatened Carlisle a vital 3-2 win against League Two leaders Port Vale at Brunton Park.Carlisle took the lead in the 36th minute through Georgie Kelly’s fourth in three games and they doubled their lead seven minutes later through Matty Dennis.The Cumbrians’ excellent performance continued in the 49th minute when

Blackburn kept their faint play-off hopes alive with a resounding 4-1 win over fellow top six contenders Millwall.On this evidence, it is barely believable that Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael was searching for his first victory in charge at Ewood Park as his out-of-form side tore the in-form visitors to shreds.They could easily have scored three in the opening seven minutes but a goal glut did com